Australian Catholic University School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine (SoNMP) strongly supports the rights of all people who wish to pursue a paramedicine course to achieve their potential and career objectives. The School is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, clinical practice and other activities to address the impact of students' disabilities so that they are able to participate in the course.

To support potential and current students' decision-making a set of inherent requirement statements has been developed. These statements specify the course requirements of the undergraduate paramedicine course for student admission and progression. The statements are clustered under 8 domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, legal, communication, cognition, sensory abilities, strength and mobility and sustainable performance. Many of the activities associated with the professional practice of a paramedic are time sensitive, where the capacity to perform certain activities within specified time limits is required to reduce or avoid risks to patient safety and wellbeing. The safety and wellbeing of you and others is always of paramount importance.

Students are required to undertake learning activities in mixed gender environments, which reflect the Australian health care context.

The inherent requirements outlined below provide a guide for students and staff members when deciding whether you are able to meet these requirements and the type of reasonable adjustments that could be put in place to allow you to complete the course without compromising the academic integrity of the course.

If you are intending to enroll in the undergraduate paramedicine course at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, you should look at these inherent requirement statements and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting the requirements.

If you think you may experience challenges related to your disability, chronic health condition or any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a campus Disability Advisor or SoNMP staff, such as the Course Coordinator. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine reasonable adjustments to assist you to meet the Inherent Requirements. In the case where it is determined that Inherent Requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, the University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.

Inherent requirement domains

Paramedicine is a profession that is governed by industry and professional competency standards, state government legislation, policies and protocols where paramedics are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.

Compliance with the codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people they engage with. This ensures the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individual is not placed at risk

4

Adjustments must not compromise codes and standards or result in unethical behaviour.

5

Exemplars:

Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies

Complying with medico-legal requirements relating to informed consent, privacy and confidentiality with patient information in academic and clinical settings

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in a demanding role.

2

Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Paramedicine students will be exposed to emergency situations and human suffering and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally

4

Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings.

5

Exemplars:

Reflecting on practice and responding appropriately to constructive feedback

Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the clinical setting

Paramedic practice is mandated by specific legal and regulatory requirements and standards to enable the safe delivery of care.

2

Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and standards are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others

Compliance with the Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice

4

Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements.

Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills in environments which may be difficult and hostile.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care to self and others

Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective paramedic practice

4

Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the Vision Impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.

5

Exemplars:

Inserting intravenous cannulas and administering medications

Working in a safe manner on placement in poorly lit areas and at night

Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective paramedic practice

4

Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the Hearing Impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.

5

Exemplars:

Performing accurate respiratory assessment by auscultation

Listening to instructions and feedback from multiple sources simultaneously for e.g. patient, other paramedics, and hospital staff

Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others

4

Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.

5

Exemplars:

Maintaining balance while safely mobilising and transferring patients or resources

Assisting patients, with varying physical capacities, to and from beds, chairs and standing, in a variety of environments

Fine motor skills

Level

Inherent requirements statements

1

Paramedic practice is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others

4

Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.